Bishop Todd Hunter has welcomed back the Very Rev. Ger Jones as Dean of the Southwest, after the Rev. Alan Fadling graciously served for a year as interim Dean. Here, Ger shares his continuing vision for the Southwest Deanery and how we can pray for him.
C4SO: After a year off, what made you want to return to the role of Dean?
Ger Jones: I have arranged my life so that I can resume my responsibilities as Dean. As always, I want to serve where I am asked and honor Bishop Todd Hunter. If there is any way to serve C4SO, I want to do that. I value his support of Vintage and me as a church planter, and when he needs help, I want to be the first to respond with a yes.
C4SO: What do you enjoy about the role of Dean?
GJ: My desire has always been to raise up leaders and equip them to reach their potential, whether in the church or working with corporate leaders—my vocational background was training. At Vintage Church, we are called to release people into their ministry. My particular passion is to raise up church planters, so I am delighted to be part of the C4SO process to identify, recruit and deploy future leaders.
C4SO: What’s your vision for the Southwest Deanery?
GJ: My heart is to provide a deanery that is an incubator, nurturer and equipper for those at the front lines of church planting and pastoring. It is one of the most difficult tasks in ministry, if not in employment generally. If we as a deanery can equip, nurture and encourage each other, let people know they are not alone, and provide them a network that roots for them, prays for them and encourages them, that’s a beautiful thing.
C4SO: What are you most looking forward to about being Dean in the next year?
GJ: I’m looking forward to building a sense of team and family amongst those in the Deanery, as well as providing them with significant encouragement and training.
C4SO: How can we pray for you in this new role?
GJ: Please pray that the responsibilities of Dean flow well alongside my responsibilities as Rector in this next season.
A former lawyer and businessman from England, the Very Rev. Ger Jones is the Rector of Vintage Church in Los Angeles. He has an emphasis on deep teaching, Spirit-filled ministry and a passion for the lost, particularly through the Alpha Course. Ger and his wife Lizzie live in LA with their three children.